Turntable for converting LPs to digital

[jackdaw77]

I'm not sure if this is the right place to post this, but I am looking for a setup to convert my classical LP collection to CD. I've seen a whole lot of really cheap USB turntables on Amazon and elsewhere, but suspect the sound quality would be terrible and I'm also worried that the louder sections of music would get clipped, as there tends to be a lot more dynamic variation in classical music. At the same time, I don't have sufficient budget to go for the top of the range. None of the turntables with good reviews by What Hifi seem to have USB connections. A few of years ago I bought a setup including a Project debut and some kind of preamp, but it was faulty and I had a lot of trouble with the supplier so I ended up sending it back for a refund. The whole thing cost about £250 and I don't want to go much above that now, in fact would prefer to pay less if possible.

I was wondering about one of the cheaper Pro-ject turntables - Essential or Genie 2/3, but how could I connect this to a PC? Or is there a USB turntable that anyone could recommend?

Alternatively, I have an ancient Dual 505-2 turntable which has been gathering dust for years as it doesn't work (it's just dead - nothing happens if I plug it in and I fear an electrical fault). I don't know if there is any possibility of getting that fixed.

I'd very much appreciate some advice. Thanks.

 

[The_Lhc]

Just look for a USB phono pre-amp, there are many available, some fairly cheaply, that will allow you to use any TT you want.

 

[Anonymous]

Just look for a USB phono pre-amp, there are many available, some fairly cheaply, that will allow you to use any TT you want.

+1 Pro-Ject do a nice one

 

[Anonymous]

I'm not sure if this is the right place to post this, but I am looking for a setup to convert my classical LP collection to CD. I've seen a whole lot of really cheap USB turntables on Amazon and elsewhere, but suspect the sound quality would be terrible and I'm also worried that the louder sections of music would get clipped, as there tends to be a lot more dynamic variation in classical music. At the same time, I don't have sufficient budget to go for the top of the range. None of the turntables with good reviews by What Hifi seem to have USB connections. A few of years ago I bought a setup including a Project debut and some kind of preamp, but it was faulty and I had a lot of trouble with the supplier so I ended up sending it back for a refund. The whole thing cost about £250 and I don't want to go much above that now, in fact would prefer to pay less if possible.

I was wondering about one of the cheaper Pro-ject turntables - Essential or Genie 2/3, but how could I connect this to a PC? Or is there a USB turntable that anyone could recommend?

Alternatively, I have an ancient Dual 505-2 turntable which has been gathering dust for years as it doesn't work (it's just dead - nothing happens if I plug it in and I fear an electrical fault). I don't know if there is any possibility of getting that fixed.

I'd very much appreciate some advice. Thanks.

Silly question but have you checked the belt, these are known to disintegrate over time.

Happened to mine after a few years with no use.

If its just the belt replace it get a usb phono pre amp and you're sorted. Maybe a new stylus or cart, guessing it uses the Ortofon, which you can

get replacement stylus for

 

[ifor]

Example:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tnhS8EpmYFU

I posted this just to show how good vinyl to digital transfers can sound. The TT used here is over 30 years old and was picked up on eBay. The phono stage is rather special.

 

[iMark]

The most convenient way ever was using my portable minidisc recorder. My mother and some of my friends had decent stereos with record players. I would just plug the the minidisc recorder in the amplifier and start recording while we were listening to a record.

I still have a pile of very good recordings I made around the year 2000. A couple of years ago I bought a second hand Sony MD deck with digtal out and I have transferred many discs to my Mac through the optical input.

At the moment I place my old MacBook near the stereo and I use a Griffin iMic for the analogue to digital transfer through USB. I mainly do this for music I don't have in another way and I like to listen to on my iPod nano. I use Vinyl Studio for the recording.

I have thought of getting a better quality A/D converter to make hirez recordings but they're quite expensive.